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Old 12-14-2006, 12:23 AM   #1
pickarooney
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Distribution: (X)ubuntu Maverick
Posts: 152

Rep: Reputation: 15
Lost system, can't reinstall


I was fiddling about trying to fix a graphics card issue when I suddenly lost X and could no longer boot into a graphical environment. After attempting to fix it in vain, I decided to reinstall Ubuntu (I was planning on doing it soon anyway). The isntallation went without errors but on reboot I got a GRUB screen offering different modes of startup. When I choose my kernel I get an error number 15 file not found in reference to a kernel image at /boot....
Same story with recovery mode.
I then wiped the HD again and installed Kubuntu. After reboot it's the same story, GRUB loader and error 15 file not found each time.
Thank heavens for Live CDs, but I've no idea what to do next.
What does this kind of message mean and how can I boot to my newly isntalled system?
 
Old 12-14-2006, 12:33 AM   #2
bigrigdriver
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Registered: Jul 2002
Location: East Centra Illinois, USA
Distribution: Debian stable
Posts: 5,908

Rep: Reputation: 356Reputation: 356Reputation: 356Reputation: 356
This is grub error 15:

Quote:
15 : File not found
This error is returned if the specified file name cannot be found,
but everything else (like the disk/partition info) is OK.
The file I got this from can be found by googling for 'Solving Boot Problems with Grub - 2nd Edition'.

It's especially troublesome that you get the same error after wiping the drive and re-installing.

The only thing I can suggest is to re-install, slowly, with pen a paper handy. Take notes of each and every decision you make, options selected, etc.

Copies of /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab may also be useful.
 
Old 12-14-2006, 12:44 AM   #3
pickarooney
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Distribution: (X)ubuntu Maverick
Posts: 152

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Thanks for the quick reply.
I think the problem might be related to an old, broken installation of Ubunu Breezy the boot loader picked up on a secondary hard drive and lists as an option at boot time.
menu.lst looks like this:
Code:
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
#      password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title		Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root		(hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader	+1
#
# title		Linux
# root		(hd0,1)
# kernel	/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=5bec61b0-4e6c-4df2-a10b-896bee3cc2ac ro
# kopt_2_6=root=/dev/sda1 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd2,0)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic
root		(hd2,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
quiet
savedefault
boot

title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd2,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
boot

title		Ubuntu, memtest86+
root		(hd2,0)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title		Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-10-386 (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-10-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-10-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-10-386 (recovery mode) (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-10-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro single 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-10-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-9-386 (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-9-386 (recovery mode) (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro single 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, memtest86+ (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin  
savedefault
boot
All the stuff after ### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST is irrelevant to my installation.
 
Old 12-14-2006, 02:00 AM   #4
pickarooney
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Distribution: (X)ubuntu Maverick
Posts: 152

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
I'm pretty sure this bit is wrong:
[code]
## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash
[/hda5]
hda5 should not be used at all for this installation.
 
Old 12-15-2006, 03:18 AM   #5
JZL240I-U
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2003
Location: Germany
Distribution: openSuSE Tumbleweed-KDE, Mint 21, MX-21, Manjaro
Posts: 4,629

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
GRUB has a search function which can look for the missing file (might be realized via an autocomplete mechanism). Have a look at

http://www.troubleshooters.com/linux/grub/grub.htm
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+Win9x+Grub-HOWTO/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...41#post1208741
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/
http://www.mcc.ac.uk/grub/grub_toc.html
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Multiboot-with-GRUB.html

One of those should be able to help you (I hope ).
 
Old 02-05-2007, 08:14 AM   #6
radu.miron
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jan 2007
Distribution: Ubuntu 7.04 Fiesty Fawn
Posts: 13

Rep: Reputation: 0
Sorry about posting here, but I'm new to this site and I couldn't find where to start a new thread

Hello, I have a problem with my grub loader. About 2 months ago I installed Ubuntu 6.06, dual boot with Windows XP. It worked perfectly. I was very pleased Ubuntu, since I've previously installed fedora 5, 6, suse, and couldn't get thing going there. But, yesterday I thought why not giving Windows Vista a try, and I replaced XP with Vista(formatted the XP partition and installed VIsta there). After the first reboot, I saw that the grub loader didn't appear, and that the system saw only Vista installed. I searched for an answer, about how to reinitialize the grub loader, and thought I've found it (it went somenthing like that :
1. Boot your computer up with Ubuntu CD
2. Go through all the process until you reach "[!!!] Disk Partition"
3. Select Manual Partition
4. Mount your appropriate linux partions

/
/boot
swap
.....

5. DO NOT FORMAT THEM.
6. Finish the manual partition
7. Say "Yes" when it asks you to save the changes
8. It will give you errors saying that "the system couldn't install ....." after that
9. Ignore them, keep select "continue" until you get back to the Ubuntu installation menu
10. Jump to "Install Grub ...."
11. Once it is finished, just restart your computer

But it didn't work for me(somehow the installer on the Ubuntu live CD crashed after beginning the installation...several times). So I've reinstalled Ubuntu on the partition where I already had it installed(formatted the partition first). Now when I reboot, the grub loader shows me that I have only Ubuntu installed, and no trace of Vista. Can anyone tell me how to set the grub loader to see both Vista and Ubuntu?

Thanks!
 
Old 02-06-2007, 07:19 AM   #7
JZL240I-U
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2003
Location: Germany
Distribution: openSuSE Tumbleweed-KDE, Mint 21, MX-21, Manjaro
Posts: 4,629

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Quote:
Originally Posted by radu.miron
Sorry about posting here, but I'm new to this site and I couldn't find where to start a new thread...
Select a forum (e.g. software). Go to the header over the threads (not the sub forums). Click on "Thread Tools". First item is "New Thread"...

Search the site for an answer, I'd bet that there is the answer already given somewhere (I don't have it, though). I suspect though, that you mis-choose during installation, somewhere you should have been asked whether the other system should get an entry for GRUB. You can edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst. Read this:

[U]http://www.troubleshooters.com/linux/grub/grub.htm
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+Win9x+Grub-HOWTO/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...41#post1208741
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/
http://www.mcc.ac.uk/grub/grub_toc.html
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Multiboot-with-GRUB.html

Or some of it

Good luck.
 
Old 02-09-2007, 04:26 AM   #8
radu.miron
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jan 2007
Distribution: Ubuntu 7.04 Fiesty Fawn
Posts: 13

Rep: Reputation: 0
well, I solved it ....found the answer here: http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/grubcon...-xp-dual-boot/....nice explanations and a valid solution.... And also thanks for the help regarding startind a new thread ...


Cheers!
 
Old 02-09-2007, 04:51 AM   #9
JZL240I-U
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2003
Location: Germany
Distribution: openSuSE Tumbleweed-KDE, Mint 21, MX-21, Manjaro
Posts: 4,629

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Glad you solved it and nice that you came back to post your solution .
 
Old 02-09-2007, 08:58 AM   #10
anindyanuri
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: India
Distribution: Kubuntu Gutsy
Posts: 450

Rep: Reputation: 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by pickarooney
Thanks for the quick reply.
I think the problem might be related to an old, broken installation of Ubunu Breezy the boot loader picked up on a secondary hard drive and lists as an option at boot time.
menu.lst looks like this:
Code:
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
#      password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title		Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root		(hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader	+1
#
# title		Linux
# root		(hd0,1)
# kernel	/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=5bec61b0-4e6c-4df2-a10b-896bee3cc2ac ro
# kopt_2_6=root=/dev/sda1 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd2,0)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic
root		(hd2,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
quiet
savedefault
boot

title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd2,0)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
boot

title		Ubuntu, memtest86+
root		(hd2,0)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title		Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-10-386 (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-10-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-10-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-10-386 (recovery mode) (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-10-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro single 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-10-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-9-386 (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-9-386 (recovery mode) (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro single 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/hda7.
title		Ubuntu, memtest86+ (on /dev/hda7)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin  
savedefault
boot
All the stuff after ### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST is irrelevant to my installation.
Do you have two hard drives installed in your system and one is SATA and the other is PATA?
 
  


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